Augustus Goetz

Plays by Augustus Goetz

A Tony Award-winning play based on the novel Washington Square by Henry James - one of James’ most complex and satisfying portraits of the American character. Set in New York City in 1850, the play centers on the painfully shy Catherine and her austere father. When Catherine falls in love with a handsome suitor, her father threatens to disinherit her, convinced that the young man could only be interested in Catherine’s fortune.

Augustus Goetz (1901-1957) is probably most famous for co-writing (with his wife Ruth Goetz) the 1947 play The Heiress, along with the screenplay for the feature-length film version two years later. The play was first staged in London and featured Ralph Richardson, James Donald, Peggy Ashcroft and Donald Sinden, with John Gielgud as director. He is also known for his work (again alongside Ruth) on Carrie (1952) and Rhapsody (1954).